Let's face it: Confidence matters.

by Style Team31 Jul 2017 | 2:10 PM

Confidence is possibly one of our most coveted traits, but it is also something we've all struggled with at some point in our lives. Though society generally focuses on women's insecurities, we know we're not just speaking for ourselves when we say that men also feel a certain level of pressure-physically, emotionally, and professionally. Below are a few tips on how to tackle your insecurities and build your confidence:

1. Cut all the garbage out of your diet.

While avid beer drinkers refuse to acknowledge it, your diet really does affect your mood and state of mind. Just think about the last time you loaded your body with junk; there might have been an immediate high, but it probably didn't last very long. Feeding it the right vitamins and minerals keeps it from shutting down, which can lead to depression and anxiety.

2. Hit the gym.

Exercise has a lot of perks. For one, you may not be able to change your face (unless you go under the knife), but you can definitely sculpt your body and build your stamina. Just make sure that your goal is to feel better inside, because attempting to look like a supermodel won't necessarily boost your confidence. Internally, when you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which relieve stress and ease tension and anxiety. And we're not just talking about yoga, either; lifting and slowly increasing your weights create a sense of achievement, which can positively affect your self-esteem.

3. Go for clothes that make you look and feel powerful.

Believe it or not, clothes are essential to your confidence; you've probably heard the saying, "Dress for success." In a paper published in Social Psychological and Personality Science, researchers asked the subjects to change into formal or casual clothing before cognitive tests. They later found that those who wore more formal attire performed better. Additionally, researchers in a study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General assigned male participants to either wear sweats or a suit to a mock negotiation. And those who dressed to impress locked down more profitable deals. Now, we're not telling you to walk around in power suits all day, but putting in more effort in your wardrobe certainly can't hurt.

4. Take care of your hair.

Did you know that a Google report from 2015 found that men care more about hair than women do? You guessed it; it was the year the man bun was born. But having (and maintaining) a full head of hair has always been a dream for most men. It's a sign of youth and virility, which is why hairfall and hairloss are two things we avoid like the plague. To make sure you keep your mane nourished, get regular haircuts, understand your hair type, and invest in products that strengthen instead of using whatever's available inside the bathroom.

5. Follow a skincare routine.

As some of you can attest to, we don't just leave our skin problems behind the minute we graduate from puberty. Pimples are the worst whenever and wherever they appear. Though common, the shame associated with acne can be quite crippling. Figure out your skin type, use non-comedogenic soaps and cleansers, and keep your pores unclogged.